Religious communism 564299 218352742 2008-06-10T07:23:49Z 190.25.12.130 /* Examples of religious communism */ {{Unreferenced|date=September 2007}} {{Original research|date=September 2007}} {{Communism}} '''Religious communism''' is a form of [[communism]] centered on [[religion|religious]] principles. The term usually refers to a number of [[Egalitarianism|egalitarian]] and [[utopia]]n religious societies practicing the voluntary dissolution of private property, so that society's benefits are distributed according to a person's needs, and every person performs labor according to their abilities. "Religious communism" has also been used to describe the ideas of religious individuals and groups who advocate the application of communist policies on a wider scale, often joining secular communists in their struggle to abolish [[capitalism]]. The use of the word ''communism'' in a religious context predates the use of the term to describe more secular forms of communism, such as that advocated by [[François Babeuf]] in the [[18th Century]], and [[Karl Marx]] in the [[19th Century]]. Because of the [[secular]] nature of [[Marxism]], many religious people on the [[right-wing politics|political right]] oppose the use of the term ''communism'' to refer to religious communal societies, preferring names such as ''[[communalism]]'' instead. ==Examples of religious communism== The term ''religious communism'' has been ascribed to the social arrangement practiced by many orders of [[monk]]s and [[nun]]s of such religions as [[Christian]]ity, [[Taoism]], [[Jainism]], [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]]. Though [[Islam]] does not follow such an arrangement, some scholars have found a number of other parallels between communism and [[Islamic economic jurisprudence]], such as the Islamic ideas of [[zakat]] and [[riba]].<ref>[[Bernard Lewis]] (1954), "Communism and Islam", ''International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-)'' '''30''' (1), p. 1-12.</ref> The teachings of [[Mazdak]], a religious proto-[[Socialism|socialist]] [[Persian people|Persian]] reformer, has also been referred to as early "[[communism]]".<ref name="Quran">Wherry, Rev. E. M. "A Comprehensive Commentary on the Quran and Preliminary Discourse", 1896. pp 66.</ref> It is argued that the [[New Testament]] of the [[Bible]] relates how some of the early Christians lived in communities organized according to communist-like principles (see [[Christian communism]]). ::''"all who owned property or houses sold them and lay them at the feet of the apostles to be distributed to everyone according to his need."'' ([[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 4:32-35; see also 2:42-47) Various other Christian communities have organized themselves along similar principles since then. Due to the generally small size of these communities, little is known about the ones that are believed to have existed more than a few centuries ago. There are several examples from recent history, however, including the pilgrims of [[Plymouth Colony]], the [[Shakers]], the [[Harmony Society]], [[Hutterite]]s, some groups within the [[Religious Society of Friends]], and the [[United Order]] and the [[History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. The [[Diggers]] movement in [[England]] in the year [[1649]] may also be described as an example of religious communism. The Diggers were particularly concerned with the communal ownership of land. ==See also== *[[Christian communism]] *[[Diane Drufenbrock]] *[[Ebionites]] *[[Hutterite]]s *[[United Order]] *[[Sabbath economics]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Communalism]] [[Category:Communism]] [[Category:Religion and politics]] [[ko:종교적 공산주의]]